A Bus Driver's Long Shift: How Many Hours?

Bus drivers work varying shift patterns depending on their role and location. Full-time bus drivers are typically guaranteed 40 working hours per week, often working five eight-hour shifts. However, some sources suggest that it is legal for local bus drivers to work 10-hour days, with no weekly or fortnightly limit beyond one day off every two weeks. School bus drivers, who typically work during term time, may work split shifts to accommodate school start and finish times, often working from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and then from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Full-time bus drivers work 40 hours per week

For example, London bus drivers on the 470 route work 12-hour shifts for two to three consecutive days. However, within this period, they have non-driving time of over five hours each day and a minimum rest time of 10 hours and 30 minutes between shifts. The total driving time across the entire rota is seven hours and 51 minutes on any given day, averaging out at just under 40 hours per week.

School bus drivers typically work similar hours, ranging from 20 to 40 hours per week. They often work split shifts, which means they have two separate working periods within a day. For instance, they may work from 6 am to 10 am and then from 2 pm to 5 pm. This is due to the nature of their job, as they are required to take children to and from school and are not needed during the rest of the day.

While full-time bus drivers are guaranteed 40 hours of work per week, part-time bus drivers are guaranteed at least 20 hours, with the option to work more. On average, bus drivers work nearly six hours more per week than other workers due to the low wages in the industry.

Part-time bus drivers work at least 20 hours per week

Part-time bus drivers are guaranteed a minimum of 20 hours of work per week. This can be spread across a variety of shift patterns, depending on the needs of the bus company and the availability of the driver. For example, a part-time bus driver might work five four-hour shifts or four five-hour shifts in a week.

Part-time bus drivers often have the option to work more hours if they wish. This could be in the form of additional shifts or longer shifts, depending on the company's needs. For example, a driver might work a mix of four and five-hour shifts to total 25 hours per week.

The specific shift lengths and patterns can vary depending on the type of bus service. For example, school bus drivers typically work split shifts, with one shift in the morning and one in the afternoon, to take children to and from school. These shifts might be from 6 am to 10 am and then 2 pm to 5 pm, resulting in a total of around 7 hours of work per day. School bus drivers may also have the opportunity to earn additional hours by taking on extra routes, such as driving sports teams to games.

In some cases, bus drivers may work longer shifts, such as 8-hour or 12-hour days. For example, London bus drivers have been known to work 12-hour shifts for several days in a row, with non-driving time and rest periods built into the rota to comply with regulations.

It's important to note that while part-time bus drivers are guaranteed a minimum of 20 hours per week, the specific work hours and shift patterns can vary depending on the company, the type of bus service, and other factors.

School bus drivers work split shifts

School bus drivers typically work anywhere from 20 to 40 hours per week. Most work what is known as a 'split shift', which means their day is divided into two separate working periods. This is due to the nature of the job, as drivers are required to take children to and from school and are not needed during the school day.

A typical school bus driver works from around 6 am to 10 am and then from 2 pm to 5 pm. Some drivers only work the morning or afternoon shift, depending on the district's needs and the availability of drivers. It is also possible to earn additional hours by taking on extra routes, such as taking sports teams to games.

School bus drivers work while school is in session, so they often have holidays and summers off. However, some schools may have summer programs that require drivers for some portion of the summer break. In these cases, it is also possible for school bus drivers to look into local summer camps that may need bussing services.

Although many school bus driving roles are part-time, they are often not flexible, and the staggered hours can create issues for those looking for work solely in the mornings or afternoons. Split shifts can be inconvenient for drivers, contributing to a lack of retention in the profession. A study of bus drivers working split shifts found that 36% of participants reported problems with this type of schedule, which was associated with higher perceived stress, poorer health, working hours interfering with social life, lower sleep quality, persistent fatigue, and lower general work satisfaction.

London bus drivers work 12-hour shifts with non-driving time

Bus drivers work varying shift patterns depending on their location and the type of driving they do. For instance, school bus drivers tend to work split shifts, taking children to and from school, whereas full-time bus drivers often work 5 eight-hour shifts per week.

In London, bus drivers work 12-hour shifts, which include non-driving time. For example, a rota for the 470 bus route lists 12-hour shifts for two or three consecutive days. However, within this period, there is non-driving time of over five hours each day, and a minimum rest time of 10 hours and 30 minutes between each shift. The maximum total driving time across the entire rota is seven hours and 51 minutes on any day, and the rota averages out at just under 40 hours a week.

London's bus network is the most heavily monitored in the UK with respect to driver hours. The bus operator is responsible for ensuring that scheduled driver hours meet UK regulations. In the case of the 470 bus route, the operator RATP kept overall hours below the maximum ceiling and provided greater rest time than that legally required.

The long periods of non-driving time in the schedule for the 470 bus route take place at Epsom bus garage or Epsom town centre, with suitable facilities to gain rest, food and access to toilets at both.

Overall, while London bus drivers may work 12-hour shifts, these include significant non-driving time and rest periods to ensure compliance with regulations and to prevent driver fatigue.

Local bus drivers can work 10-hour days

Local bus drivers can work up to 10-hour days, and their shifts can be longer than the average 8-5 workday. While full-time bus drivers are guaranteed 40 working hours per week, they often work this across five eight-hour shifts. However, some bus drivers may work early mornings, evenings, or even overnight shifts, which can result in longer days.

For example, London bus drivers on the 470 route have been recorded working 12-hour shifts for two to three days in a row. While these longer shifts include non-driving time and adequate rest time to meet UK regulations, they demonstrate that bus driver shifts can exceed the standard eight-hour workday.

School bus drivers, in particular, typically work split shifts due to the nature of their job. They may work from 6 am to 10 am and then from 2 pm to 5 pm, taking children to and from school. This results in a workday that aligns more closely with the standard school day rather than a traditional eight-hour shift.

The variation in bus driver shift lengths highlights the flexible nature of the job, which often involves early mornings, evenings, or split shifts to accommodate the transportation needs of the community. While local bus drivers can legally work 10-hour days, it's important to note that there are ongoing campaigns and considerations to reduce their working hours and bring them more in line with long-distance bus or lorry drivers' restrictions.

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